AID Youth Employment Act
Rep. Kelly Proposes $4.3 Billion to Create Summer and Year-Round Jobs for Youth
This bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process after being sent to the House Committee on Education and Workforce. It is actively moving through the system, but no future hearings or votes have been scheduled yet. There is no companion bill listed for this proposal at this time.
Legislative Progress
This bill proposes billions in new spending and was introduced by a member of the minority party, making it difficult to pass without significant changes.
Key Points
- The bill creates competitive grant programs for summer and year-round subsidized employment for youth ages 14 through 24. Up to $1.8 billion could go toward summer jobs and $2.4 billion toward year-round jobs, with grants awarded to states, local governments, tribal organizations, and community-based organizations.
- The program specifically targets young people facing the toughest barriers to employment, including those who are homeless, in foster care, involved in the justice system, or living in communities with high poverty, violence, or drug overdose rates.
From policy text
“The term `marginalized', used with respect to an individual, includes individuals who are homeless, in foster care, involved in the juvenile or criminal justice system, or are not enrolled in or at risk of dropping out of an educational institution and who live in an underserved community”
View in full text - Summer jobs must last at least six weeks, follow a schedule of no more than 20 hours per week, and pay at least the federal, state, or local minimum wage. Year-round jobs allow up to 15 hours per week for in-school youth and 20 to 40 hours per week for out-of-school youth.
- Beyond wages, grant funds can pay for support services like mentorship, case management, childcare, transportation, and mental health services to help participants stay in their jobs and build career skills.
From policy text
“to provide eligible youth with support services, including case management, child care assistance, child support services, and transportation assistance”
View in full text - At least 20 percent of funding must go to rural areas and at least 5 percent to tribal areas, ensuring job opportunities reach communities outside major cities. Tribal organizations also get a higher federal cost share of at least 95 percent.
- The bill authorizes $375 million per year for summer jobs and $500 million per year for year-round jobs from fiscal years 2026 through 2030, totaling $4.375 billion over five years. However, Congress would still need to actually appropriate the money each year.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Milestones
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
4 articlesCongress Reintroduces Legislation to Increase Youth Employment
U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, along with Rep. Robin Kelly, reintroduced the AID Youth Employment Act in 2025. The bill establishes a five-year competitive grant program for youth summer employment and year-round jobs, incorporating trauma-informed mentorship and job coaches.
Kelly, Duckworth, Durbin introduce bills aimed at boosting youth employment
U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly and Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth reintroduced the AID Youth Employment Act to expand access to jobs for underserved youth. The bill establishes a competitive grant program for summer and year-round employment, focusing on youth facing chronic unemployment.
A message from Congresswoman Robin Kelly
Congresswoman Robin Kelly highlights the introduction of the AID Youth Employment Act, aimed at increasing federal resources for communities to grow employment programs and providing tax incentives for hiring youth from economically distressed areas, including those in foster care.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
AID Youth Employment Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
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